Tach Cable Oil Leak?

[old1500]

This likely applies to my 1500 and the other brothers-n-sisters as well...like the 1700, etc.

I had an oil leak at the tachometer cable connection to the engine housing sender and made the assumption the cable sleeve was bad. I replaced the cable....but still got the leak. I must be missing something here, like a gasket or an o-ring. There was nothing in the package that the new cable was in, unless I lost it and I did not notice any sort of gasket or o-ring when I removed the old cable.

What about it guys....do I need something else...what am I missing.

I cannot seem to find a "blow-up" of this connection detail.

 

[Jbrink64]

This likely applies to my 1500 and the other brothers-n-sisters as well...like the 1700, etc.

I had an oil leak at the tachometer cable connection to the engine housing sender and made the assumption the cable sleeve was bad. I replaced the cable....but still got the leak. I must be missing something here, like a gasket or an o-ring. There was nothing in the package that the new cable was in, unless I lost it and I did not notice any sort of gasket or o-ring when I removed the old cable.

What about it guys....do I need something else...what am I missing.

I cannot seem to find a "blow-up" of this connection detail.

The tach drives mounts inside the timing gear housing with a gasket. There are also small gaskets (sealing washers) under the mounting bolt heads. Could leak from those points. If it's the drive that's leaking, it needs to be replaced. Also, check the breather tube for kinking/blockage.

 

[old1500]

I was afraid somebody would tell me it's the sending unit. The oil is definitely coming from from "inside" the unit itself. Seems to me that it would be under some pressure to be pushing that much oil out...pretty constant drip when it gets warmed up. Sure....they made it easy to change it too didn't they. It's not bad enough yet for me to yank the cover off the nose....just bugs me.

I don't see any other areas where oil is being forced out past a seal due to pressure. I suppose it's going to be the sender or what the parts diagram calls a shaft.

 

[Jbrink64]

I was afraid somebody would tell me it's the sending unit. The oil is definitely coming from from "inside" the unit itself. Seems to me that it would be under some pressure to be pushing that much oil out...pretty constant drip when it gets warmed up. Sure....they made it easy to change it too didn't they. It's not bad enough yet for me to yank the cover off the nose....just bugs me.

I don't see any other areas where oil is being forced out past a seal due to pressure. I suppose it's going to be the sender or what the parts diagram calls a shaft.

I would recommend checking, and rechecking the breather. Oil leaks at the tach drive are rare

 

[JC-jetro]

This likely applies to my 1500 and the other brothers-n-sisters as well...like the 1700, etc.

I had an oil leak at the tachometer cable connection to the engine housing sender and made the assumption the cable sleeve was bad. I replaced the cable....but still got the leak. I must be missing something here, like a gasket or an o-ring. There was nothing in the package that the new cable was in, unless I lost it and I did not notice any sort of gasket or o-ring when I removed the old cable.

What about it guys....do I need something else...what am I missing.

I cannot seem to find a "blow-up" of this connection detail.

Hey Old, You're still fiddling with this thing only imagine the entertainment value you got out of your Little ole Ford 1500. Any who, I went to NH website and just realized that 1500 and 1700 are joined at the hip they do share the same head and block but different displacement. I have a PDF below that shows some details but not the timing cover where the hook up is. It does list a gasket #17. The pic also shows mine and can't see how that gasket helps unless oil seeps from around the pipe that goes to the back of timing cover. By the way that gas kit removal and replacement require timing cover removal as well. Where does the oil come from ? from the pipe? or where the cable goes in with a screwed cap? I don't think the level of oil in the crankcase reaches that high to keep the connection submerged in oil at all times. Lubrication of higher area is done by splashing. There is crankcase vent, make sure it is open to keep the crankcase at atmospheric pressure, that might be a good possibility your oil issue.

JC,








JC,


Look at the pdf file below as well.

 

[old1500]

Jb....if you are looking for a guy that is prone to have rare problems...I'm your man.(LOL)

JC...Yep....I have looked at that diagram and I do know what all has to come off the machine to change that sender......ain't ready for that yet, even though it may be the only cure.

I know the oil is not coming from around the exterior of the pipe. It is coming right out the center where the cable plugs in. I can't tell if it's from the hole it plugs into or some seal that may be in there. The details on all the diagrams I have found don't furnish the specifics of how that thing may be sealed and that entire unit is a specific PN with no serviceable parts listed.

I agree where both you guys are headed with the vent and can't see how the oil level in the area of this leak is getting that high. Oil gets "slung" up there for lubrication. I know the vent tube is clear, but I have not got around to making sure the pipe entering the valve cover is clear. I may be running a "tad" too much oil...it is just a bit above the full mark on the dipstick. It's ready for a change anyway and I will make sure it's not above the full mark.

With the tractor running, should I be able to actually "feel" anything at the output of that vent hose? Is there another way I could check crankcase pressure, short of just running without the oil fill plug for a bit to see if that helps. (under clean controlled conditions)

BTW...it has been leaking since I had it, so I know it's not something that just occurred.

 

[JC-jetro]

Jb...
JC...Yep....I have looked at that diagram and I do know what all has to come off the machine to change that sender......ain't ready for that yet, even though it may be the only cure.


With the tractor running, should I be able to actually "feel" anything at the output of that vent hose? Is there another way I could check crankcase pressure, short of just running without the oil fill plug for a bit to see if that helps. (under clean controlled conditions)

Old,

What do you mean by the sender? are you talking about the tach in the instrument panel nest to steering wheel? I have take the cable out and if I remember it the end of flexible is squared so It can grab the center of the gear and turn. I don't if it can be called sender?

The reciprocating action of piston causes air pulsation within the crankcase. On mine I can feel that pulsation if I put my finger at the end of the rubber vent hose. I would get my air nozzle and tank and squirt a bit of air in there to unblock it. I bet you you got mummified bugs in there.

Jc,

 

[old1500]

I was calling it a "sender" for lack of a better term, but yes...it's at the connection there on the case in the picture you show. It screws on just like yours does...just like the older spedo-cables on automobiles. That stub of pipe (again...for lack of a better word), is where the oil is running "out of" not "around" the pipe. That is what I was calling the sender.

This tractor did sit up for long periods between occasional use, so the vent could be clogged, but I don't want to blow any junk back into my valve train. Doesn't that vent simply vent from the valve cover?

 

[JC-jetro]

This tractor did sit up for long periods between occasional use, so the vent could be clogged, but I don't want to blow any junk back into my valve train. Doesn't that vent simply vent from the valve cover?

Yep, it does. I took the cover off once to check valve lash clearance. You can blow the junk out after you take the cover off. It take removal of two nuts to take the cover off. Even better, I get my shop walk and suck up the blockage from the end of rubber tube... might want to take off the oil fill cap to allow air entry to valve cover/ rocker arm assembly using a shop vac.

JC,

 

[old1500]

Yep...looks just like that. I'll let you know if it was plugged or not.